Product Review

Being new to the colored lead fad I decided to buy the three biggest brands of
0.5mm lead. Staedtler Mars MIcro (blue), UNI-ball (red), and Pentel Stein (red).
I wanted to buy each brand in red but mars was only offered in blue.
Erasability: Both the Pentel and Mars leads were impossible to erase and act
like an indelible pencil. The UNI however erased as easy as normal graphite. (I
tried using both normal pencil erasers as well as the premium hi-polymer
erasers).
Durability: Both the Pentel Stein and the UNI appeared to be fairly comparable
in their durability (the UNI may be slightly stronger). The MARS lead reminded
me of those 2 foot long rubber pencils that you use to play with as a kid (huge
fail)
The left handed smudge: writing more like an indelible pencil both the MARS and
Pentel appeared to be resistant to smudging. Although the UNI smudged noticeably
less than a standard graphite lead it could not compete with the other two.
Color and depth: Both the Mars and UNI appear to write with a deeper and smooth
feel while the Pentel offers a slightly more crisp feel.
Overall I am most impressed with the UNI however will be investing in the Pentel
because I need an indelible pencil for work.